Westside Digest

Santa Monica : Dog Run Gets 6-Month Test

The City Council this week approved a "dog run" at Memorial Park for a six-month trial period, making it the first place in the city where canines will be allowed to run free.

The run is to be 21 feet by 230 feet and fenced. Dogs will be allowed to roam without leashes, but must be accompanied by an adult. People will be required to pick up after their pets. Small scoops might be provided by companies that produce pet products, according to Barbara Franklyn-Moran, director of cultural and recreation services.

The run, near Olympic Boulevard, will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The council vowed that, if the dog run is successful, more open space would be provided for dogs.

A Santa Monica group called Pets are Worth Sharing (PAWS) had been campaigning for the run and collected about 1,000 signatures supporting the idea. One proponent of the run said "New York City is a less hostile place to dogs than Santa Monica," which bans dogs without leashes from all parks and beaches.

One critic of the plan said the run is too small and dilapidated. He called the park a "doggie ghetto" and said it is occupied by homeless people.